Press Release

New York, NY, July 15, 2014 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said that remarks made by Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the Israel-Hamas conflict were “highly inappropriate” and expressed outrage at his “harshly incendiary” comments.

“According to reports, you made the unthinkable comparison of an Israeli politician to Hitler and accused Israel of ‘terrorizing the region,’ of ‘disregard of international law’ and of ‘tyranny,’ said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, in a letter to the prime minister. “Comparisons to Hitler of this kind are never acceptable.”

The League also highlighted Prime Minster Erdogan’s one-sided statement with no mention of Hamas, and its deliberate acts of terror against Israeli civilians.

“Meanwhile, no mention was made during your remarks of the terror perpetrated against millions of Israeli civilians by the well-over one thousand rockets launched by Hamas and others into densely populated areas of Israel,” Mr. Foxman wrote. “It is clear, however, that such incendiary comparisons and accusations focused exclusively on Israel serve to provoke ill-feelings and anger against Israel, and play no constructive role in bringing the parties together or promoting a cease fire.”

ADL called on Turkey to “set a different tone” and refrain from “hateful and unhelpful rhetoric.”

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.